RECORDIAU CAE GWYN RECORDS is one of those labels doing the good work; like Come Play With Me way, way east across Offa’s Dyke in Leeds, it’s a label fiercely focussed on the musics arising from its immediate hinterland, in this case Snowdonia; panning the musical streams and sifting the nuggets of gold to bring out to us in the wider world.
It’s a label we should be spending more time with, and yes, that means us, too; we last featured their stable right at the beginning of the year when IsoPHeX dropped the haunting electronica of “Doppelgänger” and yep, there’s enough right there to keep a proof-reader busy.
If you delve deeper, part the fronds, you’ll find other delights in the shape of label boss Dan Amor and his beautifully blurry, chiming guitar essays, keeping that particularly Welsh psych-pop torch burning bright; the raw, punk-as-fuck blues of Tom ap Dan; the Future Sound of London-like biological soundscapery of Dinosaurs Among Us; and Omaloma’s blissful synthpop-scapes, which are gorgeously Future Bible Heroes-like.
So with IsoPHeX beginning the year, perhaps it’s at least only right that we bookend its final days with another fine release from the label, and this time from Lastigband.
Lastigband is the electronica project of Gethin Davies, otherwise of psychsters San Segur; based in the village of Penmachno, just south of Betws-y-Coed, he knows a thing or two about the glories and subtle beauties of downbeat, lofi ‘tronica. Witness the way “Galaxy” unfurls in woozy synths, lazy percussive elements that maybe gossip rather than chatter; examines the clear, dark skies visible from those slate mountains in prettiness and wonder. Tune.
Lastigband’s had support from BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales and he’s played both the ever-excellent Green Man and the National Eisteddfod; we should be playing more by him too, I rather feel.
Lastigband’s “Galaxy” is out today on all digital streaming platforms.
Connect with Lastigband elsewhere online at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and Recordiau Cae Gwyn on those same socials here, here and here and also on YouTube.
